Set up your own personal VPN

Hackers have a ton of tools to get your personal information. They can use social media, emails, fraudulent websites and so much more to hack you and get whatever they want. There is good news, though. You can use your own set of tools to protect yourself. One of these tools is a VPN or Virtual Private Network. VPNs can make sure you are protected from a number of hacks, and they are relatively simple to set up. I can show you how with some simple steps.

3 ways to keep your Amazon gifts under wraps

As Christmas approaches, we are starting to get those gifts we purchased online for our friends and family. But, sometimes it can be difficult to make sure we keep those presents secret so that on the big day we can see the surprise and joy on their faces. That's why I have three tips for you that will make sure you keep those presents under wraps this year.

Podcast: The best Black Friday and Cyber Monday de

Shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday means getting the best deals on the latest tech like laptops, televisions, tablets, smartphones, and so much more. In this episode of Komando on Demand, Kim shares insider secrets on scoring the best deals you can get your hands on during the biggest shopping days of the year. Kim talks to retail and shopping expert Sarah Hollenbeck from blackfriday.com about some of the best deals from Best Buy, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Kohl's, Macy's, and other retailers. Don't miss this podcast as you will hear first-hand what to look for and where to find it. Kim and Sarah also share the hottest deals on clothing, jewelry, and toys on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

3 Black Friday and Cyber Monday insider secrets st

The holiday shopping weekend coming up, better known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, has some amazing deals, but even with all the sales it's easy to rack up a pretty penny. So, of course you want to save a little extra cash during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Fortunately, there are some simple tricks that help you do just that. I can show you how.

10 great Siri tricks you’ll wish you knew so

The virtual assistants are becoming more and more prevalent everyday. We use them to do so much from simple reminders to remembering what to buy at the grocery store. Well one of the first and most popular of these is, of course, Siri for the iPhone. What you might not know is there is a slew of unique features that she can perform that are not only game changing but sometimes entertaining.

Best streaming boxes for getting the shows and mov

At this point, it seems that streaming movies and TV shows is just so much simpler and more convenient than cable. You can watch whatever you want, whenever you want right from the comfort of your couch. But, there are just so many streaming devices that it can be difficult to know which one is the best. The good thing is, there are quite a few great ones out there. I can show you the best ones to buy today.

Critical settings so hackers can’t access your b

Just how secure are your bank accounts? You need to assume that your password isn’t strong enough. You might as well believe that someone, somewhere, is working around the clock to break into your accounts and steal your money, your identity and anything else you have. Because it’s essentially true. But there are ways to block them.

Publishing a book from a hacker’s point of v

Karl from Oklahoma City, a former hacker, called in to The Kim Komando Show to ask about how to publish and promote a book. Karl, a former hacker, has decided to write a book about ID theft from a hackers' point of view. Having a former hacker give tips and advice about what people can do to safeguard their personal data is a huge benefit to everyone. Kim asks Karl about his days as a hacker, about his book and then gives him some advice on how to get it published.

How to use your phone as your home internet provid

In this day and age, we all require the internet for a wide variety of tasks throughout our day-to-day lives. We need to connect with our friends and family, be entertained, find out information, or basically anything else. With that being said, a new wave of so called 'Cord Cutting' seems to be on the rise. First it was getting rid of the landline phone, then it was cable, now it's home internet service.

Kim’s picks of gadgets that are worth your money

When it comes to gadgets, there are so many out there that could really help make our lives better or easier. That sounds great, except for one problem. There are so many. But that should not stop you from upgrading your tech. With that in mind, here are some gadgets I not only think you'll want to have, but are also worth the money.

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Kim’s picks of gadgets that are worth your money

When it comes to gadgets, there are so many out there that could really help make our lives better or easier. That sounds great, except for one problem. There are so many. But that should not stop you from upgrading your tech. With that in mind, here are some gadgets I not only think you'll want to have, but are also worth the money.

Tech News Today

Black Friday 2018: 5 deals we know about so far

The best time to plan your Black Friday shopping is right now. Even if you're not going to be throwing elbows down at Walmart, you want to make sure there's money set aside for big purchases. Sure, it ruins the surprise a little, but who wants to be waiting in line for one thing then find out there's something even better across town? Deals are already beginning to leak out, even with Black Friday this far away. Here's five big deals we already know about on electronics and other tech goodies for Black Friday.

New Samsung battery concerns, Hackers now targetin

Watch Worthy

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

What’s a better Thanksgiving than a Charlie Brown one? If you want to watch your favorite cartoon characters celebrate the day of being thankful, then you’ll be excited for this video! It’s the full story movie episode too, so you won’t be left wondering what happens! Great for kids and people of all ages!

How the Macy’s parade became a staple of Tha

When you think of Thanksgiving you think of turkey and stuffing, of course, but another big part of this holiday is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This colorful event has been around for almost 100 years, and each year it just gets bigger and bigger.

The devastating effects of poverty in China

In China, there are 43 million people who live in extreme poverty. For the most populated country in the world, solving this economic problem is a monumental task, and the timeline for success is only 3 years. What does this project look like?

Hilariously weird Thanksgiving traditions

What are your Thanksgiving traditions? In this clip from the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, some watchers describe their family’s weird traditions. Think you have the weirdest one? Watch the video and see which is your favorite. Hopefully the best tradition is everyone getting together and having fun while being thankful for all they have. As well as eating all that food! But maybe not a turkey dance this year.

Nepal’s tiger populations are rising

It’s been troublesome times for the tiger. Their natural habitat has been shrinking, and poaching for their pets and bones have made the populations in the wild dwindle lower than ever before. Nepal is estimated to have 235 tigers across five national parks, and recently there’s been a remarkable population increase of 19% over four years. Is this the beginning of a recovery, or is it too soon to celebrate?

‘Waiting for Godot’ is a must-read!

It’s a book you might remember from high school or college. But if you haven’t heard of "Waiting for Godot," then you should add it to your reading list. Simply put, it’s about two men waiting for someone named "Godot." But the mysterious man doesn’t come any time soon, and the two begin to debate about whether he will ever come, why they are waiting, and even if they are in the right place? It’s a simple question - what should they do? Make sure to read the book if you have a chance, you won’t regret it!

What I streamed and what I liked: “Behind Th

Kim's streaming pick for this weekend is new flat Earth documentary, "Behind The Curve." The internet has revived the conspiracy theory that the Earth is flat -- and America's flat-Earth movement appears to be growing -- despite its detractors in the scientific community. This documentary also takes a behind the scenes look at the lives of "flat-Earthers."

How to make realistic animatronics

Not everything you see in movies is computer generated. In fact, animatronics have been a large part of special effects in both film and TV, even in commercials! But although their presence might go unnoticed in their performances, these animatronics get a lot of work put into them. See how they are made, and the dedication and time that comes with bringing them to life!

Tech Reports

Set up your financial accounts like you’re g

One of the most important things we need to protect in this digital day and age is our financial accounts. That means bank accounts, credit accounts, retirement accounts, and more. And with more and more hackers getting at our personal information, it really is time you look at these accounts like it's an inevitability that they get hacked at some point. The good thing is I have put together a list of 5 things you can do right now to protect yourself when that day comes.

One Man, Three Hacks. What happened to this guy ca

Kim talks to a caller named Barry in Virginia who had his information hacked not once, not twice, but three times and is now looking for a solution to make sure he can keep is personal data and information protected in the likely case it will happen again. Kim give Barry some good tips on how he can secure his network and personal data.

Don’t get ripped off, check your internet sp

Many internet service providers make claims about how fast their internet speed is, and that can be really important when it comes to how we use it. Many times you will be streaming or trying to connect a new device and it will get extremely slow or sometimes not work at all. But that's why I have a solution for you. There are free online programs you can use to check your internet speed and make sure your ISP is being truthful about their speed claims.

Trace a server’s IP to find out who sent you

We all know phishing scams have become a large part of today's internet culture. You receive an email and you are not sure whether or not you should open it. Well, what you might now know is there is a way to see where that email was sent from and even what server it came from. This can help you establish if the email is dangerous or not. Now, it might take a little leg work, but that's why I am here to walk you through the steps.

Great Amazon Prime perks you didn’t know about u

You may have heard of Amazon Prime, the service that allows you to get 2-day shipping with any order you place. What you might not have heard of is the entire suite of benefits you receive when you sign up for Amazon Prime. There are so many I decided to compile a list of the 10 best. While they are all amazing, #6 might just take the cake.

Finding unclaimed money and upgrade your smartphon

Flo from Charlottesville, VA called in to The Kim Komando Show to thank Kim for helping her find some unclaimed money. Flo is a subscriber to Kim's email newsletters and after reading an article about how to get unclaimed money, Flo found out she has some extra funds coming in. With her new windfall, Flo asks Kim for some tips about upgrading her smartphone.

Roku vs Amazon Fire TV vs Apple TV vs Chromecast v

More people than ever are getting rid of overpriced plans and are turning to leaner and cheaper online streaming TV services. But, of course, if you want to stream online TV content on an actual TV, you will need a streaming device of some sort. Be it a Roku, an Apple TV, a Chromecast or an Amazon Fire, this will simplify your transition from a cable TV service to a streaming one.

10 free things every Amazon Prime member gets

One of the most well-liked things Amazon introduced to us was Prime. While it is free to use Amazon, people who subscribe to Prime receive many benefits, including access to different Amazon content as well as faster deliveries. That's not all you get, though. If you are not a Prime member, you'll be interested to know what you're missing out on. And if you are, there's a good chance you don't know about everything you get with the subscription.

Michael Buble – ‘Feeling Good’

Komando.com Reports

3 new online marketplaces better than Craigslist

Once upon a time, Craigslist was a great idea. Post classified ads for free! Buy and sell what you want without any hassles! Craigslist was easy and straightforward. You could throw up text and photos, then take them down whenever you wanted. You didn't even have to post your email address. Now, Craigslist is a ghost of its former self. As goes the internet, new marketplaces keep opening up, and I’ve been very pleased with many of these alternatives.

Best streaming service: Netflix vs. Vudu vs. Amazo

When you’re picking a streaming video service, so many questions pop up: how much does it cost? What movies does it have? Can you find current episodes of your favorite TV show, or are they all from past seasons? Is there an app, and how well does it work? The list goes on and on.

5 ways to slash your smartphone bills

Remember, a smartphone is a small computer, and computers are expensive. Even older-model phones can cost hundreds of dollars, never mind the $1,149 you'd have to pay for an iPhone X with 256GB, or the Samsung Galaxy S9, which costs upwards of $950. No matter the carrier, the freefall days of free and discounted phones are over, at least among mainstream providers. The pressure to own a smartphone is high, so how do you keep those expenses as low as possible?

Insider tricks to keep hackers and scammers from s

Cybercriminals are out in full force looking for ways to steal your data. It’s worth money to them. That’s why we’ve seen a massive uptick in the number of data breaches over the past few years. Unfortunately, most folks don’t know they’ve been hacked until it’s too late. With cybercrime so rampant, you need to be proactive about protecting yourself.

15 tech upgrades you can get for free

You’ve spent so much money already – on a laptop, tablet, computer, router, network extender, printer, and smartphone. You’ve signed up for the internet, and you’re paying monthly fees. You’ll be relieved to know that a lot of tech is free.

Tips and apps for office administration

Terry from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, called in to the show to learn how to optimize their on site security reporting. Their community hires off-duty police officers to patrol the neighborhood and are looking to update how officers check in, how they report, and how they can communicate more effectively in the field.

Clever Alexa commands you can use again and again!

More than any other device, Alexa has become our closest approximation of artificial intelligence. She has a voice and personality, and if you ask the right question, she’ll even get sassy with you. Users even refer to Alexa as “she.” We usually prefer to say her name, rather than the name of the device itself, Amazon Echo. For many owners, Alexa is more than a mere virtual assistant; she has become something like a domestic companion, a Rosie or R2-D2 that can also order takeout.

Incredible useful travel apps you didn’t know ab

Have smartphone, will travel. Nowadays, your phone may operate in many different countries, or you can easily stick a SIM card into the slot and pick up a local data plan. Another option is to keep your phone off and only use Wi-Fi whenever you find it. In short, your phone is still useful when you travel, and you can access your apps in seaports and souks around the globe. Many apps are designed to enhance the travel experience.

Clearing Cache Made Easy

Change this one setting to get faster internet spe

Have you ever been frustrated by slow internet speeds? There are many things that could be causing delays in your connection speed. No one likes waiting for web pages to load or videos to play. But if you haven't changed this setting on your computer, you're probably not getting the speeds you deserve.

Sell your old cellphone for big bucks

When learning about and playing with your new smartphone, did you ever stop to think about what to do with the old one? Throw it out? Give it away? You weren't planning on using it ever again, after all, and it was just going to be a high-tech paperweight. While it may be too late for the phone you replaced years ago, it's a good thing to know that you can actually sell your old phone. And not for pennies, either. But for real money.

These forensic tools expose any photo’s hidd

Images contain a treasure trove of hidden, useful data, including date and time of image capture, time zone, type of smartphone used, and the geographical location the image was taken. To expose any photo’s hidden data, forensic tools may be used. Forensic tools can detect simple metadata or perform more advanced functions, such as to determine if a photo was altered.

Stop robocalls with Google Voice

Even with the federal Do Not Call registry in place, automated phone calls can still come flooding in. Many businesses sell your information to third parties. In fact, agreeing to this kind of information trade can be part of the deal for many free or low-cost services. The bottom line is: Robocalls are annoying and need to be stopped.

You’re missing out on what Google can really

What does Google mean to you? Maybe it’s just how you search the internet. Maybe Google Docs is your main word processing program. Maybe it’s your email provider. That’s as far as many people go with Google, but the company offers way more than that.

How to know if someone blocked your number

When you block a number, you no longer receive calls or text messages from that person. With Apple’s iPhone, it also blocks FaceTime contacts. This can be helpful for stopping some unwanted spam calls, but it can also be used for personal reasons. You won’t get any sort of official notice if someone blocks your calls, but you can make an educated guess by looking for these signs.

Join the Komando Ambassador Program

I'm giving away cool prizes! All you have to do is become a Komando Ambassador! Here’s how it works: Invite your friends to subscribe to receive Kim's email newsletters. If they sign up, you collect points to win cool prizes. It's that easy! Bookmark this link and come back to refer more friends.